Heroin was the main topic at the monthly Schuylkill County Chiefs of Police Association meeting Wednesday at the Schuylkill County Courthouse.

Police chiefs who are available meet monthly to discuss various topics. Five current police chiefs and a retired police chief met Wednesday to discuss naloxone kits that are available for law enforcement to use in the event of a heroin overdose. Paramedics have been using naloxone, a drug that acts to block the effect of heroin, for more than 30 years.Capital Blue Cross, along with the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, is providing funding in its 21-county coverage area for a rescue kit that contains naloxone and an atomizer, a device to administer the drug through nasal spray, which will be used to reverse an overdose on prescription pain medicine or heroin.The passage of Act 139 by Gov. Tom Corbett in September 2014 permits police and others to administer the drug without fear of prosecution and provides immunity when applicable."This goes right into the bloodstream in moments," Patrick Moran, education coordinator for Schuylkill EMS, the former Pottsville/Schuylkill Haven/Orwigsburg Area EMS, told the chiefs and District Attorney Christine Holman.Moran and Gary Laubach, Schuylkill EMS executive director, were invited by Dolly Malec, chief county detective, to explain the role of naloxone and answer questions.Moran said effects of a heroin overdose can wear off in minutes."Once you begin to administer this medication, you've begun the process of withdrawal," he said, adding that it is still important to get the person medical attention.Schuylkill Haven Police Chief Jeffrey Walcott asked what would occur if the person who was treated did not want to get additional medical attention. Moran said the person would likely be considered to be in an "altered" state of mind and should be examined in a hospital.Moran said police who need training can request it from the ambulance company. Training is also available online through the state Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.Laubach said police should get approval from their local municipalities before deciding to participate in training and applying for the naloxone kits."This is still a prescription medication. It has to be prescribed by a physician," he said.There are different ways the medication can be given: needles, an auto injector or the nasal spray. He said the nasal spray kits might be the most cost effective, amounting to $53 per kit. The kits would last two years.However, allowing the public access to the kits is not possible."Local pharmacies don't have it yet," Laubach said.Capital Blue Cross announced in December 2014 that it is providing funding for county emergency personnel because heroin has become a public health crisis. District attorneys must have an agreement with a local emergency medical services agency to get the prescription and then buy naloxone. The police departments must receive training and complete paperwork.Holman said she is in the process of speaking with an emergency medical agency for setting up training for any interested police departments.Minersville Police Chief Michael Combs, who is president of the Schuylkill County Chiefs of Police Association, said he favors police using the kits.Walcott said the information presented was helpful."A lot of good information was provided that will allow us to make an informed decision on what is best for our communities," Walcott said."It's a useful tool," Ed Tarantelli, Butler Township police chief, said of the naloxone.Also in attendance were Pine Grove Police Chief Thomas Trotter, Kline Township Police Chief John Petrilla, Mahanoy City retired police Chief Mark Wiekrykas and David Everly, secretary for the Schuylkill County Chiefs of Police Association.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC